12+Sansom

Urban development is a delicate balancing act, and sometimes we must say goodbye to cherished local destinations in order to make way for a plan that is ultimately more beneficial to the community and to the city at large. One of such trade-offs is slated to occur at 7619 Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy, Northwest Philadelphia, where the Trolley Car Diner is set to meet the wrecking ball, to be replaced by a six-story, mixed-use residential development designed by Morrissey Design. Although the charming chrome, neon, mural, and freestanding trolley of the diner will be missed, the proposal at hand makes for more effective use of the site, bringing significant residential density within a two0-block walk of the Mount Airy Station of the SEPTA Regional Rail and replacing the auto-centric restaurant with pedestrian-friendly retail.

Rendering have been revealed for a 16-unit mixed-use development at 2400-04 Frankford Avenue in Fishtown, Kensington. Designed by Canno Design and developed by Khosla Properties, the new building will rise four stories tall, with a retail space on the ground floor and residential units above. The building will boast a stately exterior, comprised entirely of gray brick. Throughout the façade, rows and columns of bricks project forward, creating a unique texture on the building. The southeast corner of the building will be rounded, creating a fluid look that will accentuate the intersection.